"This matter has nothing to do with you. You are an Alchemy Master and have just advanced. This conflict is quite high-level, so you shouldnât get involved!" Grandmaster Hu instructed with some concern.
"Yes, Master!" Li Shiming responded.
He certainly wouldnât participate in such a conflict. Although the Ten Thousand Beast Sect had the advantage of being local, the conflict between the two forces involved Nascent Soul Level cultivators, perhaps even Nascent Soul Middle Stage, and Great Cultivators taking action.
Li Shiming himself had some confidence in dealing with Nascent Soul Early Stage Practitioners, but any stronger Nascent Soul Cultivator was beyond his ability to handle.
Never mind that he had slain Jin Kai, a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Practitioner; at that time, Jin Kaiâs strength was likely less than one-tenth. He simply took advantage of the situation, laying an ambush utilizing Jin Kaiâs severe injuries.
Even then, he didnât dare to fight Jin Kai head-on, instead using âFaraway Closeâ to keep his distance and kite him.
"Master, please take a look at this item!" Li Shiming thought about the purpose of his visit this time and handed over a jade box containing Fourth Grade Uranium Ore.
Grandmaster Hu took the jade box, opened it, and saw the tin boxed gold case. Upon opening it further, he saw the Fourth Grade Uranium Ore inside.
"How did you get a piece of âHell Disgust Crystalâ?" Grandmaster Hu asked with surprise.
"Master, do you recognize this item?" Li Shiming exclaimed with delight, and then continued, "I happened to obtain this while out, discovering it to be very peculiar, so I brought it back out of curiosity to ask Master!"
"âHell Disgust Crystalâ is a product uniquely from the Central State Continent, only found in the area of Hell Island. Only Devil Cultivators fancy it; itâs rarely recorded in ancient texts, so itâs normal for you not to know!" Grandmaster Hu smiled as he explained.
"Master, where is Hell Island? How come Iâve never seen it on maps?" Li Shimingâs mind connected to his life-bound magical treasure IBMz15, pulling up all the maps he owned, unable to find Hell Island.
"Without Nascent Soul Middle Stage strength, donât consider going to Hell Island. Hell Island is three thousand miles across the sea in the southeast of the Central State Continent. Originally, there was a Hell Cave Heaven there; however, it collapsed five thousand years ago, its inner world assimilated into the greater outside world without fully merging, forming a highly bizarre region.
The living beings there are all strange creatures above the mid-level fourth-grade, extremely lethal. Any being entering Hell Island will be attacked, even for me to go, I need to consider going with several Great Cultivators!" Grandmaster Hu warned sternly to ensure Li Shiming understood the danger.
"I wonât be reckless!" Li Shiming bowed in acknowledgement.
Now aware of the origin of âHell Disgust Crystalâ, he considered exploring once he was strong enough.
Later, Grandmaster Hu discussed cultivation matters with Li Shiming and answered some of his questions.
"This is an invitation card for the exchange meeting hosted by the Taichu Sect, held once every hundred years. It coincides with Gu Feng Sect stirring things up, so you will go on my behalf; itâs an opportunity to make more acquaintances!" Grandmaster Hu finally took out a jade card and handed it to Li Shiming.
"Isnât my status insufficient? Perhaps Senior Brother Yue should go!" Li Shiming hesitated slightly.
"He is working with me on the Gu Feng Sect matter!" Grandmaster Hu tossed the jade card to Li Shiming, explaining.
Li Shiming could only accept, curious about such large sect exchange meetings.
Li Shiming rode on a Flying Boat with distinct Ten Thousand Beast Sect markings, currently navigating within Taichu Sectâs territory.
Nearby, not too far away, was a beautifully crafted Flying Boat belonging to Feng Lanxin.
This time, it wasnât that he and Feng Lanxin had planned to travel together, but coincidentally, after departing, discovered they shared the same destination.
"Senior Sister Feng, have you been to the Taichu Sect before?" Li Shiming stood on the Flying Boat, asking Feng Lanxin on the nearby boat.
"Iâve been there twice. The Taichu Sectâs exchange meetings mainly feature their Nascent Soul Cultivators lecturing. Their Cultivation Techniques are somewhat special; through the lectures, insights into the techniques can be enhanced, and the more cultivators that listen, the better the effect!" Feng Lanxin knew the inside story, smiling as she answered.
Li Shiming was new to this, developing an interest in the Taichu Sectâs Cultivation Techniques.
"Alongside the lectures, there are also various trading gatherings, some privately organized, others by the Taichu Sect, aimed at exchanging resources during this grand event. Itâs rumored that this time, thereâs an auction, organized jointly by the Taichu Sect and several major firms, likely featuring some good items!" Feng Lanxin continued.
"Seems I need to prepare some items; Iâm just unsure how the auctions are conducted?" Li Shiming had some ideas about the auction and exchange meeting, as he was lacking many materials and hoped to acquire some during this opportunity.
"Fourth-grade Spirit Pills are the best transaction medium, said to be more versatile than Spirit Stones. No cultivator would refuse Fourth-grade Spirit Pills, especially those crafted by you!" Feng Lanxin chuckled lightly in response.
Li Shiming had been diligently crafting a large batch of Nascent Soul Early Stage Fourth Grade Spirit Pills recently; this wasnât a secret.
A majority of the Fourth Grade Demon Pills harvested during the spirit beast tide was handed over to Li Shiming.
Li Shimingâs alchemy always ensures full pill yield, guaranteeing the quality of Nascent Soul Early Stage Fourth Grade Spirit Pills to be mid-level fourth-grade; thus, just one-third of the large batch of Fourth Grade Demon Pills yields quite a number of Spirit Pills.
Feng Lanxin looked at Li Shiming with curiosity, due to Li Shiming being under Grandmaster Huâs tutelage, many cultivators dared not pry into Li Shimingâs secrets.
This time, Li Shiming, within just a few months, crafted a large number of Fourth Grade Demon Pills into Spirit Pills, causing suspicion simply from the allocation of time.
But precisely because Li Shiming has a Great Cultivator as a master, nobody investigated this matter.
Even though Feng Lanxin is Li Shimingâs friend, she refrained from asking such confidential information.
"Thatâs good, I still have some inventory of Fourth-grade Spirit Pills!" Li Shiming nodded with a smile.
He wasnât referring to the Nascent Soul Early Stage Fourth Grade Spirit Pills he crafted recently, but rather previous spoils. He didnât use the Spirit Pills he personally crafted.
The Spirit Pills he used himself were, at minimum, of high-grade fourth-grade quality, even theoretically the highest quality. Exposing such high-grade Spirit Pills would certainly cause trouble for himself.
As they conversed, they arrived within a thousand miles of the Taichu Sect.
"Master Li, we need to take out the invitation cards; we are about to enter the controlled area of Taichu Sect!" Feng Lanxin reminded audibly.
They produced the invitation cards as the Flying Boat entered the thousand-mile range. Li Shiming sensed a situation similar to that within the thousand-mile range of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect; he had entered a space influenced by a Grotto Heaven.
It seems the Taichu Sect, like the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, or perhaps all major sects in Dongqi Continent, control several Grotto Heavens and implement their protection over the sect.
"Greetings to the two fellows from Shui Miao!" Just upon entering the thousand-mile range of Taichu Sect, a Nascent Soul Early Stage Practitioner came to greet them.
"Fellow Shui, long time no see!" Feng Lanxin was delighted, immediately meeting a familiar female cultivator; she replied smiling.
Shui Miao was a Nascent Soul Early Stage female cultivator adorned in a Fourth-grade Colorful Robe Magical Treasure. Li Shiming, through observing her vitality and eyes, could tell she was younger than Feng Lanxin, though not by much.
Shui Miao was tasked with welcoming them. Although Li Shiming and Feng Lanxin were merely Nascent Soul Early Stage Practitioners, these two invitation cards were issued for Great Cultivators.
Even if Great Cultivators didnât personally arrive but sent Li Shiming and Feng Lanxin instead, the Taichu Sect still dispatched practitioners to welcome them, expressing respect towards the Great Cultivators.
Shui Miao was also very pleased; seeing Feng Lanxin arrive indicated another opportunity to reunite with a familiar peer female cultivator.
There are always many things among female cultivators that canât be shared with male cultivators; their interests are beyond male cultivatorsâ understanding. In the sect, most peer female cultivators have interests tied, thus, Feng Lanxin, without interest conflicts from a fellow righteous path major sect, was more convenient.